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In our emails, sent once or twice a week, you'll receive:
• alerts on new threats to New York's environment
• opportunities to join other New Yorkers on urgent actions
• updates on the decisions that impact our environment
• resources to help you create a cleaner, greener future

Global Warming Solutions Updates

As the Trump administration considers weakening federal air quality and global warming emissions standards, air pollution remains a threat to public health. According to a new report by Environment New York Research & Policy Center, 20 million people in the New York City metropolitan area experienced 75 days of degraded air quality in 2016, increasing the risk of premature death, asthma attacks and other adverse health impacts.

Today, the New York State Office of the Attorney General and the New York City Office of the Mayor, in partnership with NYC Councilmember Costa Constantinides, Environmental Protection Committee Chair, and The New School, presented the New York City People’s Hearing on the Repeal of the Clean Power Plan. The Trump administration will not be holding hearings in New York on the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan—the first-ever nationwide limits on greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil-fuel power plants. The “People’s Hearing” will ensure New Yorkers’ voices are heard on this important measure.

Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York, gave the following testimony:

Today, the House of Representatives is voting on a tax bill that would open America’s unspoiled Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling and maintain billions in tax breaks for fossil fuel producers.

Today, nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states finalized new rules to cut power plant pollution by at least two-thirds below 2005 levels by 2030. The action makes the best regional clean air and climate protection program in the country – the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – even better. This program – which first took effect in 2009 – limits dangerous pollution from power plants in New York and across the region, helping to slow the warming of our planet and clean up our air. It also fuels investment in clean energy by making polluters pay to pollute.

Today’s decision follows a multi-year review of the program with broad stakeholder input, including more than 500 leaders calling for greater ambition. The action is particularly noteworthy in light of the ongoing efforts of the Trump administration to reverse prior administrations’ actions to fight climate change, including the Clean Power Plan and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York, issued the following statement:

Today the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee released a draft tax bill that slashes incentives for clean energy sources such as wind and solar and electric vehicles, while maintaining most of the permanent oil incentives and extending nuclear tax breaks. Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York, issued the following statement in response:

Happy 5th birthday, Clean Car Standards! People across the United States are celebrating less air pollution and more oil staying in the ground as the Clean Car Standards turn 5 years old this week. These standards aren’t just good for the environment, they’re good for the economy as well: Americans have saved nearly $50 billion at the pump since automakers, federal and state governments and other stakeholders agreed upon the rules on October 15, 2012.

“It’s not every five-year-old who can cut pollution and save oil! These Clean Car Standards are working, across the country we have already seen consumer savings at the pump all while reducing dangerous emissions,” said Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York.

Today, Environment New York released its federal scorecard evaluating how the New York congressional delegation has voted when it comes to supporting clean air and clean water and other environmental protections.

Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York, released the following statement:

Despite decades of progress under the Clean Air Act, Americans across the country continue to breathe unhealthy air, leading to increased risk of premature death, asthma attacks and other adverse health impacts.

New York, NY – This week, New York presented three possible options for strengthening the best regional clean air and climate protection program in the country, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. This program limits dangerous pollution from power plants in New York and across the region – helping to slow the warming of our planet and clean up our air. It also fuels investment in clean energy by making polluters pay to pollute.

A coalition of advocates, health professionals, businesses and local elected officials have been calling for the states to double the strength of the program and cut pollution in half by 2030 from today’s levels. While two of the proposals put forward today would make the program slightly stronger, all three fall short of what needs to happen.

Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York, made the following statement in response:

To tackle the climate crisis, we need to quickly shift away from dirty fossil fuels and towards 100 percent renewable energy. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are leading the way with the best regional clean air and climate protection program in the country: the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.